LOCAL SPORTS: NJSWA honors Garden State greats

Honorees Todd Frazier, National League rookie of the year from the Cincinnati Reds, second from left, and Brad Brach, relief pitcher of the year from the San Diego Padres, second from right, pose with Trentonian reporter Joe O'Gorman, left, and Joe Martino of the NJ Sports Writers Assn. Board of Governors Sunday Jan. 20, 2013 in Edison. (Trentonian photo/Jackie Schear)

EDISON — Each of them had a unique story, something totally Jersey that the big crowd in the main ballroom at the Pines Manor yesterday enjoyed every minute hearing.

Delran’s Carli Lloyd, the queen of international soccer, who scored both goals in America’s win over Japan to capture the gold medal in London last summer, related how a rare benching on the eve of the first game started a comeback that made her the New Jersey Sports Writers Association 2012 Woman of the Year at the annual dinner.

This championship group of 17 men and women representing 10 sports made the 77th annual NJSWA affair a statewide tribute to athletes, coaches, trainers, referees, TV/press honorees and administrators who did their part to keep the Garden State such a major part of the pro and amateur sports scene.

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“I don’t know what it is about being from New Jersey, maybe it’s something in the water, but we’re just tough strong people,” Lloyd told the audience. “When I got benched just before we went to London it came out of nowhere and I wasn’t expecting it.

“It was heartbreaking and shattering. I chose to train twice as hard and when I got there (London) I made sure I was the hardest working player. When my chance came and I was called upon, I was ready,” said Lloyd. “I had a dream the night before that I would get the winning goal even through I didn’t know if I would play.”

Turns out Lloyd came on with the U.S. down, 2-0, early on, but went on to score the game winner and the start the Americans on their ride to the gold medal.

Jay Price, the Manasquan High coach, who got his rebuilding football team in the state playoffs upsetting an unbeaten opponent on the final day of qualifying, was presented the ‘First Responders’ award after his players used every hour of sunlight in their hometown to rescue neighbors who were victimized by the flood damage from Hurricane Sandy.

The crowd was spellbound as Price explained how his fellow responders on two trucks that battled the flood to rescue citizens stranded by the rising tide were all former athletes — all but two former Manasquan football players who had been taught by the late Vic Kubu, a Jersey coaching legend.

“It always seems there are more former athletes who trade in their uniforms for first responder gear,” Price told the crowd. “They always accept the challenge and move in to help their neighbors, often using nothing but shovels donated by FEMA. This award is for all of them, not me. They deserve the salute.”

Price, whose Manasquan team lost in the first round of state play to Nottingham, which would go on to be the first Mercer County team since 1989 to claim a state title, was part of a big day of honorees from the Monmouth/Ocean County area.

Todd Frazier, who in 1998 helped lead his Toms River American Little League team to a World Series title in Williamsport and later played on two state champion teams at Toms River South High, won the Major League Rookie of the Year award after a hitting .273 with 19 homers and 67 RBI for Cincinnati.

His high school coach Ken Frank — who holds the state record for wins with 773 in 34 seasons at South­ — received the Distinguished High School Coaching Legend award. His teams have won five Group III state titles.

Monmouth University grad Brian Brach, a product of Freehold Township High who was 2-4 with a 3.78 ERA and 15 holds for the Padres last summer, was honored as Relief Pitcher of the Year.

Another Toms River native in the spotlight — Ultimate Fighting Champion Frankie “The Answer” Edgar — was also an NJSWA honoree as a Hall of Fame inductee.

“I’m a proud Jersey guy, so when I fight for the featherweight title on Feb. 2, I know Jersey is going to be behind me,” said Edgar. “I never expected I would be fighting when I got out of college (Clarion), but I’m still doing it and determined to make my state proud.”